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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Alien attack on a teen gang in a housing block in London? This is a movie? You bet, and it's a good one! Attack the Block is beautifully shot, the chase scenes are amazing and the aliens are threatening and awesome. I thought I was burnt out on alien invasion stories, but this is a good one. This was one of the best films of the year for me.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

The sci-fi action film In Time plunges us into a world where time is currency. The difference between rich and poor becomes life and death. There are crazy cars, insane high heels, big guns and chase scenes galore. Entertaining and a bit mind-bending. I liked this one.

The horror film is alive and well here in RI. Inkubus was filmed in the closed Cranston Police Station and provides an eerie setting. The devil is here and he's kicking ass and taking names. The editing is impressive and Robert Englund gives a sinister performance as Inkubus. Well done.

The word I have heard most from people describing the latest interpretation of Winnie the Pooh is charming. I agree. The story is cute, there are many funny moments. The gang in the Hundred Acre Woods is on a mission, and they are brave, frantic, silly and, did I mention, cute. This was my grandson's first movie in the theater and I watched it on DVD twice. This lovely film will find it's way into my DVD collection for sure.

Monday, October 24, 2011

In 2005, I came cross the blog of Benjamin Wagner. A young musician, writer, runner, MTV producer and film maker. An essay he wrote about meeting the legendary Fred Rogers touched me. I continued to read Wagner's posts, became a fan of his music and followed the early stages of the making of a documentary about how meeting Mr. Rogers had effected him. The film was finished last year, and appropriately found its world premier at the Nantucket Film Festival. A year later the film landed at DocFest at The Paley Center for Media in NYC and I was there. Mister Rogers & Me explores the message of "deep and simple" through Fred Rogers acquaintances, co-workers and family. It is also an examination of responsible broadcasting and what should we be putting in front of our children. Watching this film with my grown daughter, who has her own children and has expressed concern of over exposure to media, was rewarding. This documentary is a labor of love from Benjamin and Christofer Wagner. The film will be distributed by PBS Distribution in the spring. Do yourself a favor, visit the neighborhood and pay attention to all that is deep and simple. Nice job guys.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Buck Brannaman has had a fascinating life. In the documentary Buck, he tells his story. A quiet, sensible man, he tells of his upbringing and his work with horses. Even if you aren't interested in horses,this film is compelling.

Sunday, October 09, 2011

I have a friend who had two cancerous tumors removed this year, one on his spine. For me, 50/50 was personal and realistic. A touching story of friendship, illness and coping. They throw in a light love story too. Based on a true story, I liked this film.

The Ides of March has all the elements of a good political thriller, but gets a little tied up in the complexity of political wrangling. Parts of the story are not well developed, even in a second viewing. Performances are very solid, but it could have been a more cohesive story. I'd recommend this as a rental.